The White House announced yesterday, Tuesday, to the organization that manages the main museums of Washington, that the American government will proceed with a comprehensive review to ensure that the museums are “aligned” with Donald Trump’s vision for America, which, as stated in the letter, is based on “truth and reason.”
This process is connected to next year’s celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and will concern the exhibitions, texts, and programming of eight museums in the capital, which fall under the Smithsonian Institution.
The letter notes that the initiative aims to align with the presidential directive to celebrate the “exceptional character” of the country, remove divisive or biased narratives, and restore trust in cultural institutions.
The White House cites an executive order signed in March, aimed at regaining control of the content of Smithsonian museums, which Trump has accused of “historical revisionism” and racial “ideological indoctrination” over the past decade.
“Under the executive order, which seeks to restore truth and reason to American history, we will proceed with a detailed internal evaluation,” states the August 12th letter.
The museums included are: the Museum of American History, the Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
According to the government, within 120 days—that is, by early 2026—the museums must, where necessary, proceed with changes, replacing divisive or ideological references with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions.
The Smithsonian did not provide an immediate response to a French Press Agency request for comment.
